Gwen Stefani
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| Gwen Stefani | |
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 Gwen Stefani performing
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gwen Renée Stefani |
| Born | October 3, 1969 Fullerton, California, United States |
| Origin | Anaheim, California, United States |
| Genre(s) | New Wave, Pop, Dance, Rock, Ska Punk, Alternative |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, fashion designer, actress |
| Instrument(s) | keyboards, vocals, synthesizer, sampler, drum machine, guitar |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Label(s) | Interscope |
| Associated acts | No Doubt |
| Website | www.GwenStefani.com |
Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3, 1969) (pronounced /ˈgwɛn stɛˈfɑːni/[1]), is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and occasional actress. Stefani was the frontwoman of the rock/ska band No Doubt, whose 1995 album Tragic Kingdom propelled them to stardom, selling 16 million copies worldwide. It spawned the singles "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", and "Don't Speak". The band's popularity went into decline with its fourth album, Return of Saturn (2000), but Rock Steady (2001) introduced dancehall and reggae production into its music, and generally received positive reviews.
Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was primarily inspired by music of the 1980s, taking Stefani's work further into more pop and dance music,[2] and enjoyed international success with sales of over seven million.[3] The album's third single "Hollaback Girl" became the first U.S. digital download to sell one million copies.[4] Stefani's second solo album The Sweet Escape (2006) yielded "Wind It Up", a moderate worldwide success, and the United World Chart number one "The Sweet Escape".[5] Including her work with No Doubt, Stefani has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.[6] She won the World's Best-Selling New Female Artist at the World Music Awards 2005. Stefani also received a positive response for not only the songs 4 In The Morning and Early Winter but also for their music videos.
In the media, Stefani is known as a fashion trendsetter.[7] In 2003, she debuted her clothing line L.A.M.B. and expanded her collection with the 2005 Harajuku Lovers line. Drawing inspiration from Japanese culture and fashion, Stefani performs and makes public appearances with four back-up dancers known as the Harajuku Girls. She married British grunge musician Gavin Rossdale in 2002; they have a son, Kingston James McGregor, who was born in 2006 and are expecting their second child in 2008. [8]
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[edit] Early life
Gwen Renée Stefani was born in Fullerton, California and raised in Anaheim, California,[9] and grew up in a Roman Catholic household.[10] Her mother named her after a stewardess in the 1968 novel Airport, and her middle name, Renée, comes from The Four Tops' 1968 cover of The Left Banke's 1966 hit song "Walk Away Renée".[11] Her father, Dennis Stefani, is Italian American and works as a Yamaha marketing executive. Her mother, Patti Flynn, is of Irish and Scottish descent and worked as an accountant before becoming a homemaker.[12][13] Her parents were fans of folk music and presented music by Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris to their daughter.[10] She is the second oldest of four children; she has a younger sister, Jill, a younger brother, Todd, and an older brother, Eric.[10][12] Eric was the keyboardist for No Doubt but left the band to pursue a career in animation on The Simpsons.[14]
Many of the women in Stefani's family were seamstresses, and much of her clothing was made by her or her mother. As a child, Stefani's musical interests consisted of musicals such as The Sound of Music and Evita. After making a demo tape for her father, she was encouraged to take music lessons to train her "loopy, unpredictable" voice.[10]
Stefani made her onstage debut during a talent show at Loara High School, where she sang "I Have Confidence," from The Sound of Music, in a self-made tweed dress inspired by one from the film.[3][15] Stefani was on the Loara swim team in an attempt to lose weight.[16] She first worked scrubbing floors at a Dairy Queen and later manning the MAC makeup counter of a department store.[17] After graduating from high school in 1987,[15] she began attending California State University, Fullerton.[18]
[edit] Music career
[edit] 1986 – present: No Doubt
When her brother Eric asked her to join his band, No Doubt, she was more than ready. Her brother introduced her to 2 Tone music by Madness and The Selecter, and in 1986 he invited her to provide vocals for No Doubt, a ska band he was forming.[14] The band's lead singer was John Spence, with whom Stefani shared vocals. In 1987, however, Spence committed suicide. Stefani kept No Doubt together, encouraging them to continue pushing through the difficult times. Finally, in 1991, the band was signed to Interscope Records. She also did backup vocals for Sublime on the song "Saw Red"
The band released its self-titled debut album in 1992, but its ska-pop sound was unsuccessful due to the popularity of grunge.[19] Stefani rejected the aggressiveness of female grunge artists and cited Blondie singer Debbie Harry's combination of power and sex appeal as a major influence.[20] No Doubt's third album, Tragic Kingdom (1995), which followed the self-released The Beacon Street Collection (1995), took more than three years to make. During this time, the band almost split up because of the failed romantic relationship between Stefani and bandmate Tony Kanal.[21] Their break-up inspired Stefani lyrically, and many of the album's songs, such as "Don't Speak", "Sunday Morning", and "Hey You", chronicle their relationship and her happiness.[22] Five singles were released from Tragic Kingdom and "Don't Speak" led 1996's U.S. year-end airplay chart.[23] Stefani left college for one semester to tour for Tragic Kingdom but did not return when touring lasted two and a half years.[10] The album sold more than 16 million copies worldwide,[10] and received several Grammy Award nominations.[24]
No Doubt released the less popular Return of Saturn in 2000, which expands upon the New Wave influences of Tragic Kingdom.[25] Most of the lyrical content focuses on Stefani's often rocky relationship with then-Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and her overall insecurities, including indecision on settling down and having a child.[26] The band's 2001 album, Rock Steady, explores more reggae and dancehall sounds while maintaining the band's New Wave influences, generally receiving positive reviews.[27] The album generated career-highest singles chart positions in the United States,[28] and "Hey Baby" and "Underneath It All" received Grammy Awards. A greatest hits collection, The Singles 1992-2003, which includes a cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life", was released in 2003 to moderate sales. The other members of No Doubt have begun work on a new album[29] and plan to complete it after Stefani's tour is finished.[30]
Outside No Doubt, Stefani has collaborated on the singles "South Side" and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Moby and Eve, respectively. In 2002 Eve and Stefani won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Let Me Blow Ya Mind".[31] She also collaborated with The Brian Setzer Orchestra on a cover of "You're the Boss", originally performed by Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret, for its 1998 album The Dirty Boogie.
[edit] 2004 – present: Solo career
Following No Doubt's hiatus, Stefani sought out her former bandmate Tony Kanal to discuss the possibility of a solo career. The idea was to make a quick dance record, but this became a large collaboration with other artists, producers and various non-ska influences. The result was a successful first album. Currently, Stefani has two solo albums, "Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004)," and "The Sweet Escape (2006)." [32]
[edit] 2004 – 2006: Love.Angel.Music.Baby.
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"Hollaback Girl" (2005) The song's beats and composition are based around a drum machine, piano and saxophone. It became Stefani's first U.S. number-one single. "Cool" (2005) The song features a 1980s musical-style with new wave production. It topped the Canadian Singles Chart. - Problems playing the files? See media help.
Stefani's debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. was released in November 2004. The album features a large number of collaborations with producers and other artists, including Tony Kanal, Linda Perry, André 3000, Nellee Hooper and The Neptunes. Stefani created the album to modernize the music to which she listened when in high school, and L.A.M.B. takes influence from a variety of music styles of the 1980s and early 1990s such as New Wave and electro.[33] Stefani's decision to use her solo career as an opportunity to delve further into pop music instead of trying "to convince the world of [her] talent, depth and artistic worth" was considered unusual.[2] As a result, reviews of the album were mixed, and it was described as "fun as hell but…not exactly rife with subversive social commentary."[34] The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart at number seven, selling 309,000 copies in its first week.[35] It sold well, reaching multi-platinum status in the United States,[13] the United Kingdom,[36] Australia,[37] and Canada.[38] At the 2005 Grammy Awards, Stefani was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance,[39] and at the next year's awards, Stefani received five nominations for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.[40]
The first single released from the album was "What You Waiting For?", which charted outside the U.S. Top 40, but reached the Top 10 on most other charts.[41] The song served to explain why Stefani produced a solo album and discusses her fears in leaving No Doubt for a solo career[42] as well as her desire to have a baby.[15] "Rich Girl" was released as the album's second single. A duet with rapper Eve, and produced by Dr. Dre, it is an adaptation of a 1990s pop song by British musicians Louchie Lou and Michie One, which itself is a cover of "If I Were a Rich Man", from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. "Rich Girl" proved successful on several formats, and reached the UK and U.S. top ten.[43] L.A.M.B.'s third single "Hollaback Girl" became Stefani's first U.S. and second Australian number-one single; it was less successful elsewhere.[44] The song was the first U.S. digital download to sell more than one million copies legally,[4] and its brass-driven composition remained popular throughout 2005.[45]
The fourth single "Cool" was released shortly following the popularity of its predecessor, but failed to match its chart success, reaching the top twenty in UK and U.S.[46] The song's lyrics and its accompanying music video, filmed in Lake Como, Italy, depict Stefani's former relationship with Kanal.[47] "Luxurious" was released as the album's fifth single, but did not perform as well as its predecessors. "Crash" was released in early 2006 as the album's sixth single in lieu of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'s sequel, which Stefani postponed because of her pregnancy.[48]
[edit] 2006 – 2008: The Sweet Escape
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"Wind It Up" (2006) The lead single was critically panned, in part because of its interpolation of "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music. "The Sweet Escape" (2007) The doowop-inspired title track performed well and reached number one on the world chart. - Problems playing the files? See media help.
Stefani's second solo album, The Sweet Escape, was released in December 2006. Stefani recollaborated with Kanal, Perry, and The Neptunes, along with Akon and Tim Rice-Oxley from English rock band Keane. The album focuses more heavily on electro/dance music for clubs than its predecessor.[13] Stefani commented that it differed from L.A.M.B. because "I just wasn't inspired to do another album and…I was a lot more relaxed making it."[49] Its release coincided with the DVD release of Stefani's first tour, entitled Harajuku Lovers Live. The album received mixed reviews by critics, who found that it "has a surprisingly moody, lightly autobiographical feel...[but] Stefani isn't convincing as a dissatisfied diva"[50] and called the album a "hasty return" that repeats Love. Angel. Music. Baby. with less energy.[51]
"Wind It Up", the album's lead single, was panned by critics for its use of yodeling and an interpolation of The Sound of Music[52] but was moderately successful, reaching the Top 20 in most markets.[53] The title track was well-received. To promote The Sweet Escape, Stefani was a mentor on the sixth season of American Idol and performed the song with Akon. It was an international success and earned Stefani a Grammy nomination. The song topped the United World Chart for eight weeks[54]. With 6,697,000 United World Chart points, the song is the twentieth most successful song since 1999[55] The song ended at number four on the chart's 2007 Year end chart.[56] The song is Stefani's most successful song of her solo career. In November 2006, the club single "Yummy" was released as a 3-track maxi promo single and as a 12" vinyl single[57][58], both featuring a radio edit, an instrumental and an accapella version of the song. "4 In The Morning" was released as the album's third single with mediocre success. The album's fourth single was a hybird version of Now That You Got It which featured Damian Marley. The song was a commercial failure and became her first solo single to fail to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Early Winter was released in February 2008 worldwide with initial success on European Charts. To promote the album, Stefani embarked a worldwide tour, The Sweet Escape Tour. The tour covered North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific and part of Latin America.
Stefani contributed vocals to her husband Gavin Rossdale's highly anticipated first solo record entitled Wanderlust, however, the track "Some Days"[59] on which Gwen sings was not included on the album.
[edit] Non-musical projects
Stefani made most of the clothing that she wore on stage with No Doubt, resulting in increasingly eclectic combinations. Stylist Andrea Lieberman introduced her to haute couture clothing, which lead to Stefani launching a fashion line named L.A.M.B. in 2004.[10] The line takes influence from a variety of fashions, including Guatemalan, Japanese, and Jamaican styles.[60] The line achieved popularity among celebrities and is worn by stars such as Teri Hatcher, Nicole Kidman, and Stefani herself.[61][62] In June 2005, she expanded her collection with the less expensive Harajuku Lovers line, which she referred to as "a glorified merchandise line", with varied products including a camera, mobile phone charms, and undergarments.[63][64] In late 2006, Stefani released a limited edition line of dolls called "Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Fashion dolls". The dolls are inspired by the various costumes that Stefani and the Harajuku Girls wore while touring for the album.[65] In late summer 2007, Stefani launched a perfume, 'L', as a part of her L.A.M.B. collection of clothing and accessories. The perfume has high notes of sweet pea and rose.[66]
In 2004, Stefani showed interest in making film appearances[67] and began auditioning for films such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith.[68] She made her acting debut playing Jean Harlow in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator in 2004 and was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by Cast in Motion Picture.[69] Scorsese, whose daughter was a No Doubt fan, showed reciprocal interest in casting Stefani after seeing her picture from a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photo shoot for Teen Vogue in 2003.[70][71] To prepare for the role, Stefani read two biographies and watched 18 of Harlow's films.[10] Shooting her part took four to five days, and Stefani had few lines.[72] Stefani lent her voice to the title character of Malice, a PS2 and Xbox video game in 2004; before completion, however, the company opted not to use No Doubt band-members' voices.[73]
[edit] Personal life
Soon after Stefani joined No Doubt, she and bandmate Tony Kanal began dating.[18] Stefani stated that she was heavily invested in the relationship, commenting that "...all I ever did was look at Tony and pray that God would let me have a baby with him."[15] Kanal ended the relationship.[74]
During her time with No Doubt, the band toured with fellow ska punk band Reel Big Fish, whose frontman, Aaron Barrett, later wrote the song "She's Famous Now" for their 1998 album Why Do They Rock So Hard?. The song is commonly interpreted to be about a relationship between the two and Stefani's subsequent success with No Doubt.[75] Barrett later stated that he "was just trying to start a rumor".[76]
In December 1995, No Doubt and rock band Goo Goo Dolls went on tour opening for alternative rock band Bush. Stefani met Bush guitarist and lead singer Gavin Rossdale[20] They married on September 14, 2002, with a wedding in St Paul's Church in Covent Garden, London. A second wedding was held in Los Angeles two weeks later.[77] According to Stefani, it was held so that she could wear a custom-designed wedding dress by British-Gibraltarian fashion designer John Galliano.[78]
The couple discovered in 2003 that Rossdale had a daughter, Daisy (b. 1989) from a previous fling with model Pearl Lowe when Rossdale took a paternity test. Stefani was "devastated and infuriated" at the discovery, leading to a rocky patch in her relationship with Rossdale.[79] Stefani does not have a relationship with Daisy, though Rossdale remains Daisy's godfather.[80] Stefani's song "Danger Zone" was widely believed to be about the discovery and its aftermath;[81] However, the song was written prior to the incident.[13]
In December 2005, Stefani and Rossdale announced that they were expecting their first child together. The pregnancy was first reported by Us Weekly, and Stefani confirmed the pregnancy by shouting "I want you to sing so loud that the baby hears it" during a concert in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after her press agent stated that it was untrue.[48] On May 26, 2006, their son, Kingston James McGregor Rossdale, was born via caesarean section at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[82] Kingston weighed 3.4 kilograms (7 pounds, 5 ounces).[83] In January 2008, it was confirmed by her father-in-law that Stefani will be expecting her second child. As of the date of announcement, she was 13 weeks along. Rossdale and Stefani are due in August. [84]
[edit] Public image
Stefani began wearing a bindi in the mid 1990s after attending several family gatherings for Tony Kanal, who is of Indian heritage.[85] During No Doubt's breakthrough, Stefani wore the forehead decoration in several of the band's music videos and briefly popularized the accessory in 1997.[86] First attracting attention in the 1995 music video for "Just a Girl", Stefani is known for her midriff and frequently wears shirts that expose it.[87] Stefani's makeup design generally includes light face powder, bright red lipstick, and arched eyebrows; she wrote about the subject in a song titled "Magic's in the Makeup" for No Doubt's Return of Saturn, asking "If the magic's in the makeup/Then who am I?".[10]
Stefani is a natural brunette, though her hair has not been its natural color since she was in ninth grade.[88] Since then, she has had platinum blonde hair. Stefani discussed this in the song "Platinum Blonde Life" on Rock Steady and played original blonde bombshell Jean Harlow in the 2004 biopic The Aviator.[89] Stefani also dyed her hair blue in 1998[86] and pink in 2000,[90] appearing on the cover of Return of Saturn with pink hair.
In 2006, Stefani modified her image, inspired by that of Michelle Pfeiffer's character in the 1983 film Scarface.[3] The reinvented image included a symbol consisting of two back-to-back G's, which appears on a diamond-encrusted key she wears on a necklace and which became a motif in the promotion of The Sweet Escape.[64] Stefani raised concerns in January 2007 about her rapid weight loss following her pregnancy. She stated she lost the weight through diet and exercise but admitted to obsessing over her weight due to the size zero trend.[91] She later stated that she had been on a diet since the sixth grade to fit in size 4 clothing, commenting, "It's an ongoing battle and it's a nightmare. But I like clothes too much, and I always wanted to wear the outfits I would make."[92] Stefani is pregnant with the couple's second child.[93]
[edit] Harajuku Girls
The release of Stefani's first solo album brought attention to her entourage of four Harajuku Girls, named for the area around the Harajuku Station of Tokyo, Japan. Stefani treats the back-up dancers, who appear in outfits influenced by Gothic Lolita fashion,[94] as a figment of her imagination.[95] Stefani's clothing also took influence from Japanese fashion, in a style described as a combination between Christian Dior and Japan.[15] The dancers are featured in her music videos, press coverage, and on the album cover for Love. Angel. Music. Baby., with a song named for and dedicated to them on the album. They were also featured in, and the namesake for, Stefani's Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005.
